This I didn't expect. While we've had individual people high up Google's chain of command speak out, there wasn't yet any form of official response to the patent shenanigans surrounding Android. For the first time, the company has posted on the official Google Blog about the issue, and the company is clear. Several companies, including Apple, Microsoft, and Oracle, are working together to attack Android through patents. Google is not going to sit back and take it, though. Update: Stuff just got real. Popcorn! Or better yet, coffee!

google say they wanted the patents to protect themselves against others.

I am not aware of google using any of its patents to go after anyone, do you?

Microsoft on the other hand is using patents to go after companies that compete with them.

Apple on the other hand is using patents to go after companies that compete with them.

Google's interests are not in alignment with those of Apple's and Microsoft and it can reasonably be argued that this is why they refused the offer.

Would you rather these patents be with somebody who has stated they will not use them to attack others and have no history of doing so or with somebody who is going to use them to attack others? others who are not as big and strong and who can not easily defend themselves?